Waiting for a Sign

Rhiannon's life is defined by absence—A's absence. Every message, every unknown number, every glance from a stranger is a possible sign. She tries to move on with Alexander, a kind new boyfriend, but her heart is still tethered to the memory of A, whose face and form change daily. The ache of missing someone who is everywhere and nowhere at once shapes her days. When Nathan, a boy who once hosted A, appears at her door, the past resurfaces. Rhiannon, desperate to share her secret, confides in Nathan, forging a fragile alliance of those marked by A's passing presence. The chapter pulses with longing, secrecy, and the hope that love, even in fragments, can be found again.

The Day That's Missing

Nathan is haunted by a day he cannot remember—a blank in his life that feels like a wound. The world offers rational explanations, but none fit. He recalls only Rhiannon's name, a clue that leads him to her. Their meeting is a revelation: Nathan learns the truth about A, the being who lives a different life every day. The two share their confusion, pain, and the sense of being chosen for something inexplicable. Nathan's faith in reality is shaken, but in Rhiannon, he finds someone who believes him. Together, they begin to search for A, hoping to fill the void left by that missing day.

The Other Traveler

X, another being like A, narrates with cold detachment the act of taking over bodies—sometimes permanently, sometimes with violence. X's presence is a dark mirror to A's empathy, showing what happens when power is used without conscience. X's ability to erase lives, to kill the host within, and to move on without remorse, introduces a new threat. X's desire to find others like himself is not for companionship, but for dominance and validation. The chapter is a meditation on the dangers of unchecked power and the vulnerability of identity.

Love in Fragments

A, adrift in borrowed lives, is haunted by the impossibility of lasting love. The memory of Rhiannon is both comfort and torment. Each day, A wakes in a new body, trying to do no harm, but unable to escape the ache of missing someone he cannot be with. The chapter explores the paradox of intimacy without permanence, the pain of loving someone you can never truly touch, and the ethical burden of living inside others' lives. A's longing is palpable, and his isolation profound.

Searching for Connection

United by their shared experience, Rhiannon and Nathan scour the internet for signs of A. They debate whether to leave a message for A, risking exposure and misunderstanding. Rhiannon posts a song on social media—a coded signal to A. The act is fraught with vulnerability, hope, and the fear of being misunderstood by those around her. The chapter captures the tension between public and private selves, and the desperate need to be seen by the one who matters most.

The Weight of Absence

A's existence is a series of borrowed days, each with its own joys and sorrows. He tries to do right by the people he inhabits, but the weight of his own longing for Rhiannon makes it harder to stay present. A's empathy is both his strength and his curse—he feels the pain of those he inhabits, and the pain he causes by his presence. The chapter is a meditation on responsibility, guilt, and the impossibility of perfect goodness.

Truths and Confessions

A, seeking solace, turns to an online confessional, sharing his truth with a stranger. The exchange is raw and honest, revealing the depth of A's loneliness and his yearning for connection. The stranger's empathy offers comfort, but also challenges A to confront the limits of his own beliefs. The chapter explores the power of truth-telling, the risks of vulnerability, and the hope that someone, somewhere, will understand.

The Return of X

X, now in a new body, stalks Nathan and Rhiannon, using intimidation and violence to force them to help him find A. X's philosophy is revealed: power is to be used, not questioned; empathy is weakness. Nathan becomes the target of X's threats, and the stakes are raised. The chapter is tense and foreboding, as the danger posed by X becomes ever more immediate and personal.

Dangerous Encounters

A and Rhiannon manage to reconnect, meeting in New York for a brief, magical day. Their joy is shadowed by the knowledge that X is hunting them, and that their time together is always running out. The city becomes a backdrop for both romance and fear. Meanwhile, X's pursuit grows more aggressive, and Nathan is caught in the crossfire. The chapter is a blend of hope and dread, love and danger.

The Cost of Empathy

As A continues to navigate the lives of others, he is forced to confront the consequences of his presence. A's desire to do no harm is tested by the complexity of human lives and the unpredictability of his own emotions. The chapter explores the limits of empathy, the inevitability of mistakes, and the challenge of forgiving oneself. A's struggle is universal: how to live well when perfection is impossible.

The Power of Names

A and X discuss the significance of names, the act of choosing who you are, and the power that comes from self-definition. For A, identity is fluid and open; for X, it is fixed and chosen. Their debate reveals the deep philosophical divide between them, and the ways in which names can both liberate and constrain. The chapter is a meditation on the search for self, and the courage it takes to claim your own story.

Parallel Lives

The narrative widens to include glimpses of other beings like A and X—some who have chosen to stay in one body, some who are still searching for connection. These stories offer alternative paths, cautionary tales, and the hope that A is not alone. The chapter is a tapestry of voices, each struggling with the same questions of belonging, love, and the meaning of existence.

The March for Equality

The characters converge in Washington, D.C., for a massive march for equality. The event is both personal and political, a moment of solidarity and hope. Amid the crowds, A and Rhiannon navigate their own relationship, while Nathan and others grapple with the fallout of X's actions. The march becomes a metaphor for the struggle to be seen, to be valued, and to fight for a world where everyone belongs.

The Confrontation

The tension reaches its peak as A, Rhiannon, Nathan, and Wyatt's family confront X. Through a combination of love, support, and sheer will, they manage to force X out of Wyatt's body, freeing him at last. The victory is bittersweet—X is gone, but the cost is high. The chapter is a testament to the power of community, the necessity of standing up to evil, and the pain of doing what must be done.

The Choice to Stay

In the wake of X's defeat, A is left with complicated feelings—relief, guilt, and the ache of lost possibility. Rhiannon and Nathan help A process what has happened, reminding him that he is not alone. The chapter is about choosing to stay, to keep trying, even when the path is uncertain and the future unknown.

The Shape of Love

A and Rhiannon struggle to define what they are to each other. They realize that their love cannot fit into any conventional category—it is a constant, a presence that endures despite distance, change, and uncertainty. The chapter is a celebration of love's resilience, its ability to adapt, and the freedom that comes from writing your own story.

Finding a Constant

The characters come to understand that life is defined by change, but that love can be a constant—a source of strength and meaning. A, Rhiannon, Nathan, and others find ways to support each other, to forgive themselves, and to keep moving forward. The chapter is hopeful, affirming that even in a world of uncertainty, connection is possible.

Someday, Not Never

The story ends with a sense of possibility. A is not alone; Rhiannon is not alone; none of them are. The journey is ongoing, the questions remain, but there is comfort in knowing that love, friendship, and understanding are within reach. Someday is not a promise, but it is enough.

Characters

A

A is a being who wakes up each day in a different body, borrowing lives for twenty-four hours at a time. A's existence is defined by empathy and a deep sense of responsibility—he tries to do no harm, to leave each life better than he found it. A's love for Rhiannon is the first constant in his ever-changing world, and it both anchors and torments him. Psychologically, A is marked by longing, guilt, and a yearning for connection. His journey is one of self-discovery, as he grapples with the ethics of his existence, the limits of empathy, and the possibility of love without permanence. A's development is a movement from isolation to acceptance, from self-erasure to self-assertion.

Rhiannon

Rhiannon is the emotional center of the story—a girl who has survived a toxic relationship and is learning to trust herself again. Her love for A is complicated by the impossibility of their situation, and by her desire for a normal life with Alexander. Rhiannon is compassionate, honest, and brave, willing to risk vulnerability for the sake of truth. She is also fiercely loyal, both to her friends and to her own sense of right and wrong. Psychologically, Rhiannon is torn between longing and pragmatism, hope and resignation. Her arc is one of self-empowerment, as she learns to define love on her own terms and to find constancy in a world of change.

Nathan

Nathan is a boy whose life is upended by a day he cannot remember—the day A inhabited his body. His search for answers leads him to Rhiannon and, eventually, to a deeper understanding of himself and the world. Nathan is logical, skeptical, and initially resistant to the supernatural explanation for his experience. But his openness to the truth, and his willingness to help Rhiannon and A, make him a crucial ally. Psychologically, Nathan is marked by a need for closure, a fear of being seen as crazy, and a growing sense of empathy. His development is from confusion to acceptance, from isolation to connection.

X (Xenon)

X is another being like A, but without A's empathy or restraint. X believes in using power for personal gain, staying in bodies as long as he wishes, and erasing the host's identity if necessary. He is charming, intelligent, and utterly amoral—a sociopath who sees others as tools or obstacles. X's relationship to A is both adversarial and seductive; he wants A to join him, to validate his worldview. Psychologically, X is marked by narcissism, loneliness, and a hunger for control. His arc is a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked power and the loss of humanity.

Alexander

Alexander is Rhiannon's new boyfriend—a kind, creative soul who gives her space and support. He is the opposite of her ex, Justin, and represents the possibility of a healthy, loving relationship. Alexander is secure in himself, unthreatened by Rhiannon's secrets, and willing to wait for her to be ready. Psychologically, he is marked by steadiness, openness, and a quiet confidence. His role is to show Rhiannon what love can be when it is based on respect and trust.

Wyatt

Wyatt is a teenager whose body is taken over by X for an extended period. His experience is one of violation, confusion, and eventual rescue. Wyatt's family's love and determination to bring him back are crucial to the story's climax. Psychologically, Wyatt represents the cost of power without empathy, and the importance of community in healing trauma.

Sara

Sara is the only person X ever loved, and his relationship with her is a shadowy parallel to A and Rhiannon's. Sara's story is one of longing and loss, a reminder that even those who seem irredeemable are capable of connection. Psychologically, Sara is a symbol of what X has lost by choosing power over love.

Jaiden

Jaiden is a girl Nathan meets at the library, offering him the possibility of moving forward from his trauma. She is witty, open, and unafraid to make the first move. Jaiden represents the healing power of new relationships and the importance of taking risks.

Wyatt's Family

Wyatt's parents and brother are central to the story's resolution. Their unwavering love and refusal to give up on Wyatt are what ultimately save him. Psychologically, they represent the strength of family, the pain of loss, and the joy of reunion.

Liam

Liam is another being like A, living a life of shifting identities and searching for connection. His story, told in fragments, offers hope that A is not alone, and that love is possible even for those who live outside the ordinary.

Plot Devices

Body-Swapping as Metaphor

The central device of A's daily body-swapping is both literal and symbolic. It allows the narrative to explore questions of gender, race, class, and ability from the inside out, forcing both A and the reader to confront the fluidity of identity and the arbitrariness of social categories. The device also serves as a metaphor for adolescence, for the feeling of not fitting in one's own skin, and for the universal longing to be seen and loved for who we truly are.

Multiple Narrators and Perspectives

The novel shifts between the perspectives of A, Rhiannon, Nathan, X, and others, creating a tapestry of voices and experiences. This structure allows for deep psychological insight, the exploration of different forms of love and loss, and the blurring of boundaries between self and other. The multiplicity of perspectives also mirrors the novel's themes of connection and fragmentation.

Foreshadowing and Parallelism

The narrative is rich with foreshadowing—songs posted as signals, ominous encounters with X, the recurring motif of missing days and lost time. Parallel stories (such as Liam's) offer alternative outcomes and reinforce the sense that A's journey is both unique and universal. The use of parallelism deepens the emotional impact and invites the reader to consider the broader implications of the story.

Online Confessions and Social Media

The use of online confessionals, social media posts, and anonymous chats reflects the ways in which contemporary life is lived both publicly and privately. These devices allow characters to reach out for help, to signal for connection, and to risk vulnerability in new ways. They also highlight the dangers of exposure and the longing for authenticity.

The March for Equality

The protest march serves as both a plot event and a metaphor for the characters' search for acceptance and justice. It brings together disparate threads, unites characters in a common cause, and underscores the novel's message that everyone deserves to be seen and valued. The march is a moment of hope, solidarity, and the possibility of change.

Analysis

David Levithan's Someday is a profound meditation on identity, empathy, and the search for connection in a fragmented world. Through the device of A's daily body-swapping, the novel explores the fluidity of selfhood and the ethical complexities of living inside others' lives. The presence of X, A's dark mirror, raises urgent questions about power, consent, and the dangers of living without empathy. At its heart, the book is a love story—one that refuses easy answers or conventional resolutions. Rhiannon and A's relationship is defined by absence, longing, and the courage to keep reaching for each other despite impossible odds. The novel's structure, with its shifting perspectives and parallel stories, mirrors the uncertainty and possibility of modern life. Levithan's message is clear: love is not about finding the perfect fit, but about choosing to be a constant for someone else, even when everything else is changing. In a world where so many feel unseen or misunderstood, Someday offers the hope that connection is possible—not someday, but now, in the choices we make every day.

Last updated: August 31, 2025